Residents of Eldos fed up with poor policing and senseless killings

Cllr Juwairiya Kalden addressing the crowd. Photo: Supplied

Community leaders in Eldorado Park have handed over a memorandum to SAPS to show their concern over the dire need for police visibility and assistance in the area.



They also called for the replacement of the Station Commander at the local police station. On Sunday, 24 July, Ward 18 Councillor Juwairiya Kaldien, joined by community leaders Cheryl Pillay and Dereleen James, Councillor Margaret Arnolds and other gathered outside the Eldorado Park SAPS to hand over a memorandum to SAPS Provincial Commissioner General Elias Mawela. They shared their grievances and how disappointed they are, as the community is facing a major crisis with young people being shot dead in the senseless shootings that are taking place in the community.

Senior SAPS officers present included Eldorado Park SAPS Station Commander Brigadier Mkhacani Maluleke and , SAPS JHB District Commissioner Major General Max Masha. There have been a number traumatic and frightening shootings and gun violence that are taking place in Eldorado Park and surrounding areas in recent weeks, in which many people have been killed. Some are still fighting for their lives in hospital.

The poor policing has been a major concern for community members and leaders who struggle to get a police van on time to a crime scene and sometimes wait hours before they are attended too.

“For as long as we silent weareaccomplicestoall the killings in our community. We are mandated by the children’s act to protect and ensure the care and protection of our children. We have seen the problem and we need to hold those accountable who’s been assigned to serve this community,” said James, a substance abuse activist.
“The recent spate of gun violence in our community is of grave concern. We strongly condemnthiswaragainst o u r c o m m u n i t y especially the youth.It is sad - day when our young children have to grow up in a community where it seems to be a daily occurrence to hear gun shots and witness young people being killed,” added LDAC chairperson Pillay.

Arnolds said the call by the community for Maluleke to be replaced was being addressed. “Eldorado Park has seen too many killings of young innocent kids by stray bullets.The issue of the Brigadier of Eldorado Park Brigadier Maluleka was also addressed becauseofthefactthathe is not forthcoming and prepared to work with stakeholders in Eldorado Park,” Arnold said.

Ward 18 Councillor Juwairiya Kaldien said she was determined to continue her anti-crime fight."As a councillor, I aim to fight crime with my community and bring back Eldos. We need more police visibility and assistance of police to be muchefficient.Wewill continue fighting to bring back our community from gangsterism, substance abuse, and other crime we deal with daily,” she said.




Eldorado Park Neighbourhood Watch (EPNW) chairperson Leonardo Green was a bit positive about the police. “We applaud the m e m b e r s a n d management of SAPS in the swift action that lead to arrests being made. As a community we need to stand up and reclaim our streets and let the so- called gangsters know that there is no room for them in our streets,” Green said.




Among the demands made in the memorandum are:




1. An immediate 72-hour activation operation in tracing the many illegal guns within our community.

2. Removal of station commander, Brigadier Maluleke by 1 August.

3. To provide the community with stats for all gun related crimes over the past 5 years.

4. To provide the community with drug related arrests and convictions over the past 5 years.

5. An intensified 6-month intelligence driven operation that will deal with getting guns off our streets and closing drug dens. (Bring back the members who worked in our community in 2015)

6. A police visibility plan with additional resources and manpower to protect our community on a daily basis.

7. Weekly stop and searches by JMPD

8. A mobile station for Freedom Park as resources at Eldorado Park station are stretched which impacts negatively on effective policing.

9. Additional vans (including staff) and tools of trade(phones)to assist members in responding speedily to community complaints.

10. Permanent closure of all illegal taverns through the enforcement of by-laws. (JMPD)

11. Immediate implementation of the City’s 10+ Community Policing programme where at least 10 Metro Police officers are assigned to each of the City’s 135 wards.

12. Public Report back on progress in actioning our demands and on cases of recent shootings / murders to be provided on the 6th of August 2022 at the #GunsDown event at Eldorado Park Stadium.

The memorandum has called for a public report back on progress in actioning the demands and on cases of recent shootings / murders on 6 August 2022 at the #GunsDown event scheduled to be held at Eldorado Park Stadium.

Community and leaders outside Eldorado Park SAPS. Photos: Supplied

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By Priya Ranchod